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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2002 Posts: 16 Location: oregon
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:57 am Post subject: What type of lubricant goes in a Vanagon gearbox? |
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I have a 1990 2wd vanagon, what type of lubricant goes in the gearbox?
thanks |
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borninabus Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4530 Location: Arizona Highways
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:00 am Post subject: |
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assuming its a manual: 80w90 hypoid gear oil. _________________ 71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T |
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Franklinstower Samba Member
Joined: September 21, 2006 Posts: 1891 Location: PNW
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:20 am Post subject: |
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There is a lot of discussion about this. The most important aspect is a GL4 oil
Sweepco is highly recommended, otherwise stick with a GL4 80-90 weight Hypoid gear oil. It must not be a GL5! GL5 has additives that are harsh on the yellow metals in the gearbox. Like Bronze.
Also, many say do not use Redline MT synthetic either.
Paul _________________ '89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug |
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AtlasShrugged Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2008 Posts: 1605 Location: Decatur, Ga. USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:30 am Post subject: |
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If it is an automatic trans-axle..use GL-5..its recommended by VW. If a manual gearbox..GL-4 |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:34 am Post subject: |
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Swepco is my choice for the manuals. |
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Timwhy Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009 Posts: 3990 Location: Maine
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joseph928 Samba Member
Joined: September 22, 2011 Posts: 2114 Location: flagstaff az.
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:05 am Post subject: gear oil |
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insyncro wrote: |
Swepco is my choice for the manuals. |
X2- _________________ 1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug. |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2671 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:08 am Post subject: |
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Eight sticks of butter. |
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seventyfo Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Ocoee FL
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:14 am Post subject: |
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I bought a rebuilt manual transaxle for my 85 from Rancho and put NAPA GL-4 in it and had problems with it not shifting correctly in 1st and second and also seemed to be getting too hot. Mike at Rancho sent me 4 qts of LAT/Lubeatech 80/90 and after changing it out have no more shifting or heat issues. _________________ 85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)
"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey |
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Skip Laubach Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2011 Posts: 237 Location: Elgin, Illinois
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:21 am Post subject: |
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May I elicit opinions regarding use of Lucas 80W-90 (exceeds GL-4 and GL-5) and/or Royal Purple Max-Gear 75W-90 (also exceeds GL-4 and GL-5) for '84 manual?
Perhaps either is "OK", but for any reason would prior-posts-mentioned products be preferred?
Thanks. _________________ Skip
1984 Westy 1.9 case WBXR Manual (now with 2200cc GoWesty kit)
Since 26 July 2011 |
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AtlasShrugged Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2008 Posts: 1605 Location: Decatur, Ga. USA
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:55 am Post subject: |
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Skip Laubach wrote: |
May I elicit opinions regarding use of Lucas 80W-90 (exceeds GL-4 and GL-5) and/or Royal Purple Max-Gear 75W-90 (also exceeds GL-4 and GL-5) for '84 manual?
Perhaps either is "OK", but for any reason would prior-posts-mentioned products be preferred?
Thanks. |
There is some confusion and marketing junk concerning gear oil. GL-4 is not an older or obsolete API specification replaced by GL-5. GL-5 is not "better" than GL-4.
GL-4 gear oil has less sulfur and some other additives that can damage "soft metals" like bronze or copper. Many manual gearboxes use brass/bronze syncros. That is why GL-4 is specified. GL-4 has more friction modifiers to help with hot lubrication. It is used on most modern manual transmissions.
GL-5 has a very robust sulfur/zinc additive package that works well with all steel and "hard" metals. It can be formulated without being concerned with damage to "soft metals". It works well in the all steel trans-axle like our automatic Vanagons, rear end differentials and Porsche 915 manual gearboxes.
When a bottle of gear oil says "exceeds GL-4 and GL-5", that is just nonsense. I would avoid those products. Probably just GL-4 with a load of friction modifiers.
Find a gear oil that meets the API spec and says so: GL-4 or GL-5, plain and simple. Swepco is an excellent gear oil. Hard to find. Any name brand synthetic would work too.
Do not use a gear oil that is labeled for "limited slip" differentials. They use a different formulation for the friction plates in a LS diff. Won't hurt anything, but you can do better.
The Vanagon manual gearbox spec is GL-4 or automatic diff is GL-5. Use the right lube with confidence. |
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outwesty Samba Member
Joined: June 06, 2006 Posts: 1074 Location: Tahoe City
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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_________________ www.outwesty.com Vanagon / Syncro Repair in Tahoe City, CA |
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GrindGarage Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2008 Posts: 710 Location: Ocean City, NJ
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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xoo00oox wrote: |
Eight sticks of butter. |
I think this forum needs a like button. _________________ -cliff
91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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xoo00oox wrote: |
Eight sticks of butter. |
Now that's brilliant Andrew.
The smell of gear oil makes me want to puke.
I'm picturing Homer Simpson under a vehicle drinking all the used buttery fluid coming out during a service.....uummmm....buttery fluid....num num num |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76706 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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